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Spooky, sexy, or supervisor? pg. 24
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Council recommends PVC for sustainability pg. 4
No.916 Friday 27th October 2023 varsity.co.uk The Independent Student Newspaper since 1947
We can’t take more marking boycotts, says new VC Taneesha Datta and Isabel Dempsey After half a decade as provost of Princeton University, leading Cambridge as the new Vice-Chancellor is in many ways familiar territory for Deborah Prentice. Sitting across from us in her spacious office at the Old Schools, which was first built in the fifteenth century, it’s clear that Prentice is having to confront a new set of traditions. Still, she presents a subtly powerful presence, calm and composed, boldened by the bright print of her floral blazer. The imposing wooden-panelling of the room is offset by a pop of modern art, bringing a new energy into the space. Coming into Cambridge from across the pond, Prentice feels grateful for the opportunity to start from scratch: “I think it does bring a fresh perspective, I think it brings humility,” she says. She moved to Cambridge partly out of a desire to learn something new - a fitting sentiment for someone overseeing one of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions. “There are things that Cambridge I think solves beautifully that American universities don’t solve as well,” she observes, while also suggesting that in some areas Cambridge should “take a look at” what American universities do. Although she later jokes about the lack of cooperation between the colleges, offering us a rare glimpse at her personality (“who says the colleges never cooperate? They cooperated on my inductions!”), she says that she’s never seen any American university “come close to what Cambridge can do” with the college system. She admires the way it marries the two halves of university life as a research institution and as a place to nurture students. On the other hand, Prentice tells us she has been involved in conversations about potentially broadening the Cambridge curriculum in a way that more closely resembles the US liberal arts system, especially when it comes to an educational focus on sustainability. Cambridge Zero, for example, was started in 2019 as an initiative to maximise Cambridge’s contribution to creat-
ing a sustainable zero-carbon world. As part of Cambridge Zero, Prentice tells us there is a desire “to have environmental sustainability be a part of everybody’s education.” However, she is keen to emphasise that these aren’t her own views: “I don’t have a personal view about this,” she clarifies, explaining that this is something she’s heard others discuss. In this dichotomy between what she has “heard” and what she personally desires to do, throughout the interview we find ourselves navigating the boundaries of Prentice’s position. As we ask whether she plans to fully divest from fossil fuels, we discover she doesn’t see the design of specific policies as the focal point of her job: “ultimately, it’s the University that will decide. The governance here is such that particular policies will get hashed out by the Council and the Regent House.” Instead of fixating on the “narrow” issue of University funding, Prentice hopes to help lead the University forward in the space of climate change more broadly. This is a project that, she says, everybody is on board with. “Everybody,” she repeats, with a decisive nod and pointed stare. As we move from from the climate crisis onto the cost of living crisis, Prentice chooses her words carefully. She is anxious, she tells us, that students may not be aware of the plethora of bursary schemes and hardship funds available. “The University doesn’t have the resources to carry everybody,” she notes, while still insisting that “there’s always a solution for anybody who’s really struggling.” Students’ education has been severely disrupted over the past few years, and the University is currently in the midst of a pay review for staff. Prentice insists the University is going to require deep change to achieve higher pay: “it’s going to require a lot of change at the University, actually, because it’s not as if there are pots of money lying around – it’s about changing the way the organisation works and driving efficiencies in order to provide the ability to pay our people more.” The University is currently gathering data
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‘Universities aren’t about telling people what to think’ New VC on Israel-Gaza response
Thanks for investing in gilets, says Selwyn Arwen Godingen
▲ Dr Deborah Prentice Photo: Tomos Alwyn Davies
Selwyn students have been thanked by the College for “investing” in “bedsocks, gilets, vests and blankets” as heating is cut, apparently to reduce the College’s carbon footprint. Students have expressed frustrations following heat and maintenance issues in the College. Students have claimed that their central heating was not turned on until the 18th of October, despite the College promising to activate the heating from the 1st of that month. Selwyn has told students that changes to its heating policy have been made to cut College expenditure, which could then alleviate costs for students. Many students have labelled the move hypocritical, as college rent has increased again this academic year. The College has the third-highest 30week rent in the University, at a median cost of £5,900. College rent increased by 7% for the 2022-2023 academic year and again by 10% at the start of this year. Selwyn students complained online about the lack of heating at the College, following the cold spell earlier this week. One student wrote: “Can we sign an open letter to get the heating on - it’s fucking freezing.” The college Bursar had told students that “from 1 Oct – 15 Nov heating is on in residences from 7-9am and 7-9pm.” Following the 15th of November, the heating will be turned on all day until the Spring. However, students living in Selwyn College’s Old Court have reported that their heating did not turn on until the 18th of October. The Selwyn Bursar stated in the email to students that “older buildings have inbuilt circulation challenges, not always predictable. For example, it seems from the pattern of tickets received this week that the Old Court’s pipes have taken in air” and “will need ‘bleeding’ to let the air out.” The Selwyn Bursar also wrote to students that the College is “grateful to Continued on page 3 ▶
Inside ● SU President on getting out of the ‘pit’ pg.14 ● Beware The Haunted Bookshop! pg.20 ● The history of student protests pg. 10